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Question

connecting a smart tv to an old home theater

Nov 2, 2018 1:12PM PDT

All of the digital audio to analog converters seem to say that they do not work with Dolby or surround sound. Does anyone know if there is a converter that will support Dolby and surround sound? Or can I just use the ones that say that they do not support Dolby and surround sound?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Which ‘old home theater’ do you have(?)
Nov 3, 2018 11:47AM PDT

Make/model?

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Answer
There is so much ground to cover.
Nov 3, 2018 10:32AM PDT

HD Audio is now protected and many TV's won't pass 5.1 or HD audio of any sort today. I do agree it's rather a silly rule since it's so easy to break (I didn't say it was easy or cheap.)

This means any "I'm not buying a new receiver" folk are going to have to put up with decoders and more. I'm calling that "fiddly."

So considering the TV doesn't pass HD audio (5.1, Dolby and such) you end up with many little boxes.

Example:
1. Audio extractor: https://www.amazon.com/slp/hdmi-audio-extractor/xc32yz93wutk759
2. Decoder: https://www.amazon.com/Tekimbe-Digital-Decoder-Converter-Surround/dp/B01CE7JDHW?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

And after all that you run the risk of lip sync issues. This is why I never do this or answer why the lip sync is off other than to write it does happen.